[Esip-envirosensing] Bear deterrence methods for sensor stations

["Renée F. Brown"]

I agree- electric fences are the best way to keep wildlife out. Not sure of your power design, but sounds like you do have some sort of solar panel and battery system. You may need to consider beefing up both your solar panel system as well as your battery bank such that the batteries alone can get you through cloudy and/or snowy days, while the panels are large enough to recharge the battery bank when enough sun is available.

Renee

—
Renée F. Brown
Sevilleta LTER & Sevilleta Field Station
Department of Biology
University of New Mexico


> On Mar 28, 2016, at 11:11 AM, Wyngaard, Jane R (398M-Affiliate) via Esip-envirosensing <esip-envirosensing at lists.esipfed.org> wrote:
> 
> I worked on some weather stations that had to be protected from baboons - we also had to use electric fences in the end.
> 
> I wasn’t on the power supply design but is it literally a matter of too little sunshine or would perhaps a more sophisticated recharge system help?
> 
> Jane
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Jane Wyngaard, Ph.D
> Postdoctoral scholar
> Instrument software and science data systems Section (398)
> 
> University of Southern California
> NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
> 4800 Oak Grove Drive MS: 158-256D
> Pasadena, CA 91109
> 
> Phone:  818/354-6237
> Email: Jane.R.Wyngaard at jpl.nasa.gov <mailto:Jane.R.Wyngaard at jpl.nasa.gov>
> http://sunset.usc.edu/~jwyngaar/ <http://sunset.usc.edu/~jwyngaar/>
> 
> 
> 
> From: Esip-envirosensing <esip-envirosensing-bounces at lists.esipfed.org <mailto:esip-envirosensing-bounces at lists.esipfed.org>> on behalf of Brian Herndon via Esip-envirosensing <esip-envirosensing at lists.esipfed.org <mailto:esip-envirosensing at lists.esipfed.org>>
> Reply-To: Brian Herndon <bherndon at uga.edu <mailto:bherndon at uga.edu>>
> Date: Monday, 28 March 2016 07:50
> To: "esip-envirosensing at lists.esipfed.org <mailto:esip-envirosensing at lists.esipfed.org>" <esip-envirosensing at lists.esipfed.org <mailto:esip-envirosensing at lists.esipfed.org>>
> Subject: [Esip-envirosensing] Bear deterrence methods for sensor stations
> 
> Greetings all,
> The Coweeta LTER has environmental sensor stations located throughout the southern Appalachians and as our sensor network has expanded to 68 stations, the incidents of black bear damage have increased.  These stations are located in fairly remote hardwood forests requiring equipment to be hiked in. Many are setup like the image below with soil moisture and temperature probes radiating from the base.  We bury the sensor cables so most of the issues have been with the enclosure and solar panel.  We have tried installing electric fences around the enclosure, but maintaining battery power has been an issue.  I would like to receive any suggestions, hear some war stories, etc. as to how any of you have been able to prevent wildlife damage (especially bears) to sensor stations.
>  
> Brian Herndon
> Information Manager
> Coweeta LTER <x-msg://6/coweeta.uga.edu>
> 706.542.5691
> <image003.jpg>
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